Wheels and torque

I thought it was still best practice to check the torque a short while after the  wheels had been off and back on. I usually do this when it is back from service. I then clean the stud heads and draw a line with a permanent marker across the head in a straight line towards the centre of the wheel. You can then easily do a visual check to see if anything is working loose. You do not need to check the torque before each journey. I would also fit the hubcaps as they look nice and can be quickly popped off if needed for that visual check and piece of mind.

Colin

After the spate of wheels coming off Bailey unicorn caravans a couple of years ago I have always check the torque on my caravan prior to each journey, 5 mins job and peace of mind.

I've only ever checked wheel torques shortly after a wheel change. As I wouldn't contemplate checking torques on the towcar I don't see shy I should do it on the caravan.

I tighten both car & caravan wheels without the aid of a safety net .... I've yet to have a wheel fall off in 40 years of driving & a fair few of towing. I can never quite get my head around the preoccupation/obsession of checking the torque of a caravan wheel nuts/bolts.

And when 'checking' the torque before every journey, in theory, the bolt/nut would need to be slackened off each time. If you click the torque wrench at the torque setting, is the nut/bolt at the set torque or is it twice or three times the required torque? You'd have slacken & start again to know ....

Milenco make tell tales for caravan wheels we have used them on our last three caravans ,so have not needed the faf of checking the torque as if the tell tale have not moved the the wheel bolts are still at the recommended tensions

 ... and have you ever found a loose nut/bolt? 🤔

Lost a  near side wheel on the M1  dealers fault so have used telltales ever since'

so the dealer didn't refit the wheel properly .... 

Neither would I. But we have just got a new car and have been looking through the instructions. It says we should check the torque after the first 100 miles. We've ordered a Milenco torque wrench kit with the little metal things to put on. But I guess for it to be accurate we need to adjust the torque to the car manufacturer's handbook.

Also, we found in the caravan manual that they recommend 110 to 120Nm. That seems weird to us as they are ALKO M12 as far as I can tell. They are steel wheels. ALKO older handbooks say the M12 should be 88Nm, but newer ones say refer to manufacturers handbook.

We are having a mobile ALKO certified mobile caravan fitter come next weekend to fit ALKO ATC, so I am thinking I could ask him what he thinks.

As my comment above. Do you need telltales? I strike a line though the head of the bolt with a permanent marker towards the centre of the wheel. If something is working loose you will notice it.

Colin